Young people experiencing homelessness often need different supports than older adults, including developmentally appropriate services, education or employment pathways, family or natural support work, and youth voice in program design. YHDP helps create youth-specific responses.
This may be a good fit if...
Your organization already serves youth or young adults experiencing homelessness.
You involve youth voice or youth advisory input in program design.
You can provide age-appropriate housing support and services.
You understand that YHDP requirements may differ from other project types.
This may not be the best fit if...
Your project is not youth-focused.
You do not have youth-service experience or partners.
You are trying to use YHDP as a general replacement for a non-youth project.
You have not confirmed that the local YHDP path is available.
What would the program actually do?
A young person is connected through outreach, schools, youth providers, coordinated entry, or another youth access point.
Staff build trust and identify housing, safety, education, employment, and support needs.
The project connects the young person to housing and developmentally appropriate services.
Staff support stability, income, education, natural supports, and long-term goals.
The young person moves toward safe, stable housing and adulthood supports.
What can funding usually support?
Eligible youth-focused housing or service costs depending on the component.
Supportive services for youth stability, education, employment, and housing success.
HMIS or comparable database work as required.
Project administration.
What should you have ready?
Do you already serve youth or young adults experiencing homelessness?
Can you show youth-specific need and outcomes?
Do you have youth-centered staff, partners, and program design?
Can you include youth voice in planning and evaluation?
Have you confirmed this YHDP path is available locally?
Think this might fit?
Start with a Letter of Intent
If your idea is centered on youth homelessness and you have youth-serving capacity, submit a Letter of Intent so the local team can review eligibility and fit.
